HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
No Result
View All Result
Home Football

HBCU NFL roster tracker: These are the players who made the final 53

A host of HBCU football players learned their official professional status

Jarrett Hoffman by Jarrett Hoffman
August 31, 2022
0
Photo: Arrowhead Pride

Photo: Arrowhead Pride

5.4k
VIEWS

NFL teams on Tuesday finalized their 53-man rosters and a host of HBCU football players learned whether they would officially be pros or searching for another opportunity.

HBCU players that made NFL rosters

 

Bryan Cook Safety, Kansas City Chiefs

People may not recognize the name Bryan Cook because he has spent the past three seasons with the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Prior to playing with Cincinnati, Cook spent two seasons with Howard in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He recorded 92 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, five interceptions and 12 pass breakups in 21 games with the Bison.

He continued to put up big numbers totaling 96 tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, and nine pass deflections in his final season with Cincinnati.

Cook was taken 62nd overall in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in all three Chiefs preseason games, with his best performance coming against the Green Bay Packers recording four tackles and an interception.

Joshua Williams DB, Kansas City Chiefs

Fayetteville State defensive back Joshua Williams was the only Division II HBCU rookie that made a final 53-man roster.

Williams was named to the All-CIAA First Team last season in which he tallied 31 tackles, three interceptions and six pass deflections.

The Fayetteville State defensive back received an invite to the NFL Combine and then was taken in the g fourth round of the draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rams Wire
Photo: Rams Wire

Decobie Durant DB, Los Angeles Rams

The reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Decobie Durant has made the final roster for the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

Last season, Durant led the MEAC with 12 pass deflections and tied for second with three interceptions being named to the All-MEAC First Team.

He went on to be selected with the 142nd overall pick in the fourth round of the draft by the Rams.

Ja’Tyre Carter OL, Chicago Bears

Former Southern offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter is the only offensive HBCU player that was named to a final NFL roster.

This past season, Carter was named to the All-SWAC Second Team and was selected to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

He was taken by the Chicago Bears with the 226th overall pick in the 7th round of the NFL Draft. He was the first Southern player to be drafted since 2004.

De’Shaan Dixon DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Former Norfolk State defensive end De’Shaan Dixon is one of two undrafted free agents to make an NFL roster.

Dixon was named to two All-MEAC teams in his college career, including a first team selection this past season. This came on the heels of a season in which he recorded 54 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, and four pass breakups.

Although he did not hear his name called on draft night, the former Spartan was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Markquese Bell DB, Dallas Cowboys

Rounding out the list of players to make NFL rosters is former Florida A&M defensive back Markquese Bell. Bell was a huge presence on a Florida A&M team that was among the top defenses in the country last season.

He finished the season with 95 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception. The Rattlers’ defensive back was named to the All-SWAC First Team.

HBCU players cut by NFL teams

James Houston LB, Detroit Lions

James Houston is the only player that was selected in the NFL draft that was cut from his respective team. A transfer from Florida, Houston played his lone FCS season with Jackson State.

Houston put forth a dominant display recording 70 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and an interception.

He went on to be selected by the Detroit Lions with the 217th overall pick in the sixth round of the draft.

James Houston
Photo: Jackson State Athletics

Ryan McDaniel WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Former North Carolina Central wide receiver Ryan McDaniel is one of four HBCU wide receivers who were, unfortunately, a part of the final cuts.

The Tulsa transfer finished this past season with 52 receptions for 678 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He was named to the All-MEAC Second Team.

McDaniel was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars on May 17. He didn’t play a single preseason game and was cut by the team on Aug.16.

Shemar Bridges WR, Baltimore Ravens

Fort Valley State wide receiver Shemar Bridges is the only SIAC player to be picked up by an NFL team.

A transfer from Tusculum, Bridges played in just four games for the Wildcats last season. He amassed 28 receptions for 292 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The Wildcats receiver ended up signing with the Baltimore Ravens and playing in all three preseason games. He had a breakout performance in the team’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans tallying four receptions for 62 receiving yards and recording a touchdown.

Bridges was cut by the Ravens as an injury designation.

Jequez Ezzard WR, Washington Commanders

Prior to transferring to Sam Houston State where he helped lead the team to the FCS championship in 2020, Jequez Ezzard was an All-MEAC receiver for Howard.

In 25 games with the Bison, Ezzard posted 75 receptions for 1,956 receiving yards tallying 18 touchdowns. He was named to the All-MEAC First Team in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, respectively.

Ezzard was signed by the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent at the conclusion of the draft before being waived on Aug. 17.

Daylen Baldwin, Cleveland Browns

Baldwin previously played for Morgan State and Jackson State before ending his college career with Michigan.

Baldwin began his college career in Baltimore with Morgan State where he spent two seasons playing primarily in his sophomore season. There, he totaled 152 receiving yards on 14 receptions and recorded a touchdown.

He then went on to Jackson State where he played six games in the 2021 spring season. He caught 27 passes for 540 yards and seven touchdowns.

Prior to being cut by Cleveland, Baldwin played in one preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he had three catches for 25 yards.

Tags: Bethune-CookmanJackson StateSouth Carolina State
Jarrett Hoffman

Jarrett Hoffman

Jarrett Hoffman is an HBCU Sports contributor and a graduate of Bowie State University.

Related Posts

A beefed up Alcorn State vows it will not ‘get pushed around’ again in 2025

by HBCU Sports
July 19, 2025
0
All-SWAC defensive lineman cites NCAA ruling as reason for transfer portal entry

Alcorn State isn't going to be a pushover in 2025. Fresh off a year in which several close losses knocked the Braves out of the SWAC West title...

Read moreDetails

Tennessee State adds DC Defenders UFL title-winning coach to football staff

by HBCU Sports
July 19, 2025
0
One-time HBCU football player Shannon Harris named UFL Coach of the Year

Reggie Barlow continues to assemble a strong staff for his first year at Tennessee State. The longtime HBCU coach has hired D.C. Defenders UFL championship coach Shannon Harris...

Read moreDetails

Fraternity chapter expelled from HBCU campus after hazing death investigation

by Chris Stevens
July 18, 2025
0
Fraternity chapter expelled from HBCU campus after hazing death investigation

An HBCU has decided to remove a Black Greek Letter Organization from its campus following the death of a student pledge. Southern University has expelled the Beta Sigma...

Read moreDetails

Reggie Barlow says Tennessee State OVC/Big South preseason ranking ‘is cute’

by HBCU Sports
July 18, 2025
0
Reggie Barlow not shying away from Tennessee State roster or financial challenge

Tennessee State University’s new head football coach, Reggie Barlow, didn’t mince words about the Tigers eighth-place projection in the league’s preseason poll. “That preseason poll is cute,” Barlow...

Read moreDetails

Delaware State locks up basketball coach to contract extension

by Chris Stevens
July 18, 2025
0
On the eve of the MEAC tournament, each head coach explains how their team can win it all

A rising HBCU basketball program plans to keep its coach around for the long haul. Delaware State announced that men's basketball coach Stan Waterman has signed a contract...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Norfolk State names QB1 ahead of nonconference game at Marshall

Norfolk State names QB1 ahead of nonconference game at Marshall

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

RSS HBCU Sports Forums

  • Encouragement and Motivation II
  • Man It is Some Cute Chubby Women Out Here
  • TPs Pre-Season Rankings
  • SWAC Announces "SWAC TV"
  • The 24th thread about Trump
  • Southern puts assistant band director on leave amid probe into death of fraternity pledge
  • If you're subscribing to the "SWAC TV" sTu vs PVAMU football game, can you sign in please?
  • Lighten the Mood XIV
  • Saban whines to Trump about NIL
  • The Chi on Showtime (Thread 3)

  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COMMENT POLICY
  • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
 CONTACT US

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

X